Hyundai Veloster N race car revealed

IT SEEMS as though Hyundai America is a little jealous of all the success the Europeans are enjoying with the i30 N TCR, as they’ve gone ahead and developed a 260kW Veloster N to compete in the American version of the new touring car series.

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Designed by the same Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing Team that developed the championship-winning i30 N TCR, the Veloster N racer will compete in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge alongside other TCR favourites like the Honda Civic Type R, Volkswagen Golf GTI and Audi RS3 LMS.

The Veloster N has been on sale in the US since late 2018, and acts as a stand-in for the i30 N which isn’t offered in in America – hence Hyundai’s North American arm opting for the coupe-styled hatch body.

Like the i30 N TCR racer, the Veloster N will be manufactured at Hyundai Motorsport Headquarters in Germany, and the duo share as much as 85 percent of their components with each other. We suspect the majority of that 15 percent difference will be made up by the new bodywork.

That means the Veloster N TCR will receive the same 260kW 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and will produce 450Nm at 3500rpm, sending power to the front wheels only. An upgraded sequential gearbox, twin-disc clutch, adjustable suspension and six-piston Brembo brakes add to the fun too.

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Two cars will be run in the championship by Brian Herta Autosport which are closely affiliated with Hyundai’s motorsports program, with one car fielded by Hyundai TCR veterans Michael Lewis and Mark Wilkins and the team’s second entry driven by newcomers Mason Filippi, and Harry Gottsacker.

“The success we had last year with the i30 N TCR inspired us to expand Hyundai’s motorsports program and bring the Veloster N TCR into a tougher series with longer races and more experienced drivers,” said Brian Herta, CEO of Brian Herta Autosport.

It’s unlikely we’ll see the Hyundai Veloster N TCR down here in Australia for the inaugural Australian TCR series which starts in May, but the Veloster N road car remains firmly on Hyundai Australia’s wish list.

A trio of i30 N TCR cars are already in the country, with two slated to take to the grid in 2019.